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1948 NEW ZEALAND

DEPARTMENT OF LANDS AND SURVEY SURVEYS (ANNUAL REPORT ON)

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency Wellington, 22nd July, 1948. The Surveyor-General to the Hon. the Minister of Lands. Sir I have the honour to present herewith my report on the survey operations of the Department for the year ending 31st March, 1948. I have, &c, R. G. Dick, Surveyor-General. The Hon. Minister of Lands. ..... REPORT This year has been unique in that not only has the volume of work been maintained at a higher level than in any previous year, but also the Department has been called on to undertake wider responsibilities in connection with the production of maps and charts for civil and defence purposes. The recruitment of office staff has been kept at the maximum of available applicants, but is not yet sufficient to cope with the accumulation of work and the new responsibilities mentioned above. The shortage of surveyors is a serious handicap to progress in essential survey operations urgently required for a multitude of purposes. Some benefit will be derived as new recruits to the office staff gain more experience and as survey cadets at present in training qualify as surveyors.